Phoenix Festival Theater opens the family favorite musical "Fiddler on the Roof" this weekend.
Directed by Richard Mahoney, choreographed by Kim Brueggemann and with an orchestra conducted by Nelson Fritts, the show tells the story of Tevye, a humble Jewish dairyman with a bossy wife and five daughters, as he struggles to keep faith with tradition while faced with traumatic upheaval. The book is by Joseph Stein, with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock. Highlights include the songs "Sunrise, Sunset," "Tradition," "To Life" and "If I Were A Rich Man."
"Fiddler on the Roof" runs at the Chesapeake Theater at Harford Community College at 401 Thomas Run Road from March 13 to 22. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7 p.m.; Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Reserved seating is $10 to $20. Call 443-412-2211 or visit tickets.harford.edu.
Tevye is played by Roger Schulman, who directed PFT's recent successful production of "The Music Man." Audiences may remember him from "Chicago," where he played Amos, the betrayed husband who bemoans his apparent invisibility in the song, "Cellophane."
"Tevye is a guy caught in a change of times," Schulman said. "He's a family man who loves his family and finds tremendous comfort in his traditions."
Laura Lang plays Tevye's wife, Golde. In previous PFT shows, she helped with costumes. At the John Carroll School, she and Kim Brueggemann directed "Fiddler" in 2002.
"Golde is a very strong woman," Lang said. "Some would say she's cold, but she has a good heart. She loves Tevye even though she might not act like it all the time."
Emily Boling (Maureen in PFT's fall production of "RENT") plays Tevye's oldest daughter, Tzeitel. She is love with Motel the tailor, played by Kevin James Logan. While Logan has played Motel twice before, this is his first appearance at PFT.
Carol Guarrieri plays Hodel, Tevye's second oldest daughter.
"Hodel is a little rebellious, willing to push the envelope a little bit," she said.
Hodel falls in love with Percik, a traveling tutor. His role is played by Jonathan Gibbons, who teaches philosophy and religion John Carroll. Gibbons made his PFT debut last season as Harold Hill in "The Music Man."
"Percik is kind of a radical," he said. "He shakes things up by bringing in new ideas."
Emily Morgan plays Chava, the third oldest daughter, who commits herself to Fyedka, a young (and non-Jewish) Russian played by Dominic LaFrancesca.
Sisters Lannon Fritts, 12, and Gracelynn, 11, play Shprintze and Bielke, Tevye's youngest daughters.
"My dad [Nelson] is the music director and my mom [April] is in the ensemble," Lannon said.
"Since we are all in rehearsal together, we don't have to do all the carpooling," Gracelynn said.
Mike Schafer plays Lazar Wolf.
"He's a widowed butcher who's a little bit lonesome," said Schafer, who was so determined to get into "Fiddler" that he began growing a suitable beard in November, even though auditions were not until January.
Mark Gallihue, who plays the village Rabbi, describes him as "in a way, a tragic figure because in the end, he can't protect his people." As a teenager 30 years ago, Gallihue played Motel in a Pennsylvania production.
Amy Haines makes a powerful Yente, the village's meddling matchmaker. No stranger to the stage, Haines' first role was young Gretel in "The Sound of Music" at age 4.
The cast includes Daniel Sekowski (Mordcha), Adam Nelson (Mendel, the Rabbi's son), Samuel R. Pollin (Avram), Jimmy Gallo (Nachum, the beggar), Dawn Stevens (Grandma Tzeitel, Golde's grandmother), Catherine Washburn (Fruma-Sarah), Michael Winchester (Constable), Suzette Burgess (Shandel, Motel's mother). In the ensemble are Tim Baker, Sophie Fireside, Liam and Taylor Gallihue, Emily Godfrey, Lizzie Gutridge, Sarah Kilduff, Abby, Cathy, Daniel, Mark, Megan and Rachel Koncurat, Ashley Kramer, Pamela Provins, Marylee Reeger, Judy Scott, Ava Sekowski, Caelin Sergent, Dawn Sinclair, Vira Smith, Jamie Stamper, Brianna Washburn, Laura Wheeldreyer and Caitlin Lee White.
Bottle dancers and Russians are played by Dominic LaFrancesca, Christian, Indy and Jonah Washburn and Stanton Zacker.
Members of the orchestra are Phyllis Fowler and Angela Kirchner (flutes), Kelsey Webb (clarinet), Laura Snyder (bassoon), Haley Will (trumpet), Dawn Zipay (French horn), Alison Burgess (trombone), Mark Leppo (percussion), Ronald Onda (accordion), Pat Rardon (violin), Jackson Leid (viola), Patrick Boyle (cello) and Bob Boyle (bass).
The production team includes Company Manager/Producer Larry Hensley, Technical Director Jeff Kanyuck, Stage Manager Becky Flickinger, Set Designer Envision Productions, Costume Designer Gay Lynn Price, Props Manager Heather Gasswint, Lighting Designer Bill Price and Sound Designer/Operator Terry Edwards.